"Welcome, O Child of Bethlehem! Fill our empty hearts with your Father's peace: The pece that heals, that comforts, that lifts up, that unites. And may your Spirit make us ministers of that peace, enabling us to become God's 'people of good will'-a people dedicated to building your regn of compassion, justice, and peace for all people, in all seasons." (Waiting in Joyful Hope-Jay Cormier)

"The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light"(Is 9:1).This prophecy of Isaiah never ceases to touch us, especially when we hear it proclaimed in the liturgy of Christmas Night. This is not simply an emotional or sentimental matter. It moves us because it states the deep reality of what we are: a people who walk, and all around us - and within us as well - there is darkness and light. In this night, as the spirit of darkness enfolds the world, there takes place anew the event which always amazes and surprises us: the people who walk see a great light. A light which makes us reflect on this mystery: the mystery of walking and seeing.Walking. This verb makes us reflect on the course of history, that long journey which is the history of salvation, starting with Abraham, our father in faith, whom the Lord called one day to set out, to go forth from his country towards the land which he would show him. From that time on, our identity as believers has been that of a people making its pilgrim way towards the promised land. This history has always been accompanied by the Lord! He is ever faithful to his covenant and to his promises. "God is light, and in him there is no darkness at all" (1 Jn 1:5). Yet on the part of the people there are times of both light and darkness, fidelity and infidelity, obedience, and rebellion; times of being a pilgrim people and times of being a people adrift.In our personal history too, there are both bright and dark moments, lights and shadows. If we love God and our brothers and sisters, we walk in the light; but if our heart is closed, if we are dominated by pride, deceit, self-seeking, then darkness falls within us and around us. "Whoever hates his brother - writes the Apostle John - is in the darkness; he walks in the darkness, and does not know the way to go, because the darkness has blinded his eyes" (1 Jn 2:11).2. On this night, like a burst of brilliant light, there rings out the proclamation of the Apostle: "God's grace has been revealed, and it has made salvation possible for the whole human race" (Tit 2:11).The grace which was revealed in our world is Jesus, born of the Virgin Mary, true man and true God. He has entered our history; he has shared our journey. He came to free us from darkness and to grant us light. In him was revealed the grace, the mercy, and the tender love of the Father: Jesus is Love incarnate. He is not simply a teacher of wisdom, he is not an ideal for which we strive while knowing that we are hopelessly distant from it. He is the meaning of life and history, who has pitched his tent in our midst.3. The shepherds were the first to see this "tent", to receive the news of Jesus' birth. They were the first because they were among the last, the outcast. And they were the first because they were awake, keeping watch in the night, guarding their flocks. Together with them, let us pause before the Child, let us pause in silence. Together with them, let us thank the Lord for having given Jesus to us, and with them let us raise from the depths of our hearts the praises of his fidelity: We bless you, Lord God most high, who lowered yourself for our sake. You are immense, and you made yourself small; you are rich and you made yourself poor; you are all-powerful and you made yourself vulnerable.On this night let us share the joy of the Gospel: God loves us, he so loves us that he gave us his Son to be our brother, to be light in our darkness. To us the Lord repeats: "Do not be afraid!" (Lk 2:10). And I too repeat: Do not be afraid! Our Father is patient, he loves us, he gives us Jesus to guide us on the way which leads to the promised land. Jesus is the light who brightens the darkness. He is our peace. Amen.

Author

Fr. Neil Buchlein, Pastor St. Mary Queen of Heaven Madison, WV

St. Joseph the WorkerWhitesville, WV

The world is like a river of which we drinkbut our sins pollute the waterAnd now the river is flooded so we must buildand ark of faith and trust in divine providenceI was in a room of darkness it wasn'tenough to open the window for airI had to unlock the door so I searched forthe key and what I found wasOur Lady of Medugorje saying to:

Me and my brothers and sisters we were strugglingbetween heaven and hellWe found it hard to understand how we gotsunk into a spiral of negative and demonic spellsSo we went on a pilgrimage searching for healingat the heavenly wellsWe came across a wise man telling us children it's verysimple, conversion, mass the sacraments and

Chorus

Oh we've got to pray, pray pray pray,pray pray pray for a happier day

Need a childlike faith to enter into heaven'til the harvesters come don't be afraid

We all have our crosses to carry if we carrythem humbly there's no need to worryIf we forgive we'll be forgiven then ourpurified hearts will feel thepresence of God's eternal love burn insideI ain't no religious expert but I don't have tobe to know that God ain't illusionI'm testifying what I witness 'cause a faithwithout acts is a dead faith that's whyI wrote this song so we can

Chorus

Oh we've got to pray, pray pray pray,pray pray pray for a happier day

Pray pray pray for a happier dayGot to pray for a better dayPray pray pray for a happier dayGot to pray for a better dayPray pray pray for a happier dayGot to pray for a better dayPray pray pray for a happier dayGot to pray for a better dayPray pray pray for a happier day

Let us not close our hearts, let us not lose confidence,let us never give up: there are no situations which God cannot change.Pope Francis

"God has created me to do Him some definite service. He has committed some work to me which he has not committed to another. I have a mission; I may never know it in this life, but I shall be told it in the next. I am a link in a chain, a bond of connection between persons; He has not created me for naught. I shall do good—I shall do his work. I shall be an angel of peace while not intending it if I do but keep his commandments. Therefore, I will trust him." Blessed John Cardinal Newmann

ObamaCare violates our religious liberty; Planned Parenthood takes our taxpayer dollars for its abortion business; and atheists are removing Christianity from America. Get your armour on for this satanic battle is here in our backyard.

Come, Holy Spirit, and renew the face of the earth through me. Fill me with Your life and Your grace, that my soul may be sanctified. Increase in me the gift of holy wisdom, that I may use wisely the gifts You have given me. Increase in me the gift of understanding, that I may hear and respond to Your call. Increase in me the gift of Your good counsel, that I may always follow God's will. Increase in me the gift of knowledge, that I may grow in holiness by knowing God and myself more fully. Increase in me the gift of love, that I may serve as Christ's hands and feet and voice sharing Your love with everyone I meet today. Come, Holy Spirit! Renew the face of the earth through me! Amen.

Consecrate Yourself to MaryUsing the Consecration Prayerof St. Louis-Marie de Montfort

I, (Name), a faithless sinner, renew and ratify today in your hands the vows of my Baptism; I renounce forever Satan, his pomps and works; and I give myself entirely to Jesus Christ, the Incarnate Wisdom, to carry my cross after Him all the days of my life, and to be more faithful to Him than I have ever been before.

In the presence of all the heavenly court I choose you this day for my Mother and Queen. I deliver and consecrate to you, as your slave, my body and soul, my goods, both interior and exterior, and even the value of all my good actions, past, present and future; leaving to you the entire and full right of disposing of me, and all that belongs to me, without exception, according to your good pleasure, for the greater glory of God, in time and in eternity.

Our Lady of All NationsLord Jesus Christ, Son of the Father,Send now Your Spirit over the world;Let the Holy Spirit live in the Hearts of All Nations,That they may be preserved from degeneration, disaster, and war;May the Lady of All Nations, the Blessed Virgin Mary,Be our Advocate. AmenSeptember 20, 1951Bury me on my head for one day this world will be upside down." (Diogenes)

PRAYER FOR PRIESTSO Jesus, Eternal Priest, keep your priests within the shelter of your sacred heart, where none may touch them.Keep unstained their anointed hands, which daily touch your sacred body.Keep unsullied their lips, daily purpled with your precious blood.Keep pure and unearthly their hearts, sealed with the sublime mark of your priesthood.Let your holy love surround them, and shield them from the world’s contagion.Bless their labors with abundant fruit, and may the souls to whom they minister be their joy and consolation here on earth, and in heaven, their everlasting crown.Mary, Mother of Priests, pray for priests and vocations to the priesthood.– St. Therese of LisieuxQuote to live by:"Let nothing disturb you, nothing frighten you, all things are passing, God is unchanging. Patience gains all; nothing is lacking to those who have God: God alone is sufficient."- St. Teresa of Avila "Anyone who wishes to frolic with the devil, cannot rejoice with Christ." -St. Peter ChrysologusPrayer for Priests

O my Jesus, I beg You on behalf of the whole Church:grant it love and the light of Your Spirit,and give power to the words of priestsso that hardened hearts might be brought to repentanceand return to You, O Lord.

Lord, give us holy priests;You Yourself maintain them in holiness.O divine an Great High Priest,may the power of Your mercy accompany them everywhereand protect them from the devil's traps and snareswhich are continually being set for the souls for priests.May the power of Your mercy, O Lord, shatter and bring to naughtall that might tarnish the sanctity of priests,for You can do all things.AMEN.